[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10321-10322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5215]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; Agency 
Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection Under Review; National Survey 
of Police Executives, District Commanders and Agencies.

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    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval is being sought for 
the information collection listed below. This proposed information 
collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 
12, 1998 to allow 60 days for public comment. Emergency OMB approval 
has been requested by March 3, 1999.
    The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for 
public comments from the date listed at the top of this page in the 
Federal Register. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 Code 
of Federal Regulation, Part 1320.10. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially 
regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, 
should be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of 
Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Department of Justice Desk Officer, 
Washington, DC, 20530. Additionally, comments may be submitted to OMB 
via facsimile to 202-395-7285. Comments may also be submitted to the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), Justice Management Division, Information 
Management and Security Staff, Attention: Department Clearance Officer, 
Suite 850, 1001 G Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20530. Additionally, 
comments may be submitted to DOJ via facsimile to 202-514-1534. Written 
comments may also be submitted to the COPS Office, PPSE Division, 1100 
Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530, or via facsimile at (202) 
633-1386.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies should address one or more of the following points: (1) 
evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency/component, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's/component's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    The proposed collection is listed below:
    (1) Type of information collection. New collection.
    (2) The title of the form/collection. National Survey of Police 
Executives, District Commanders and Agencies

[[Page 10322]]

    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection.
    Form: COPS 28/01. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 
United States Department of Justice.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract. A sample of local law enforcement agency 
heads and precinct/district commanders that have received grant funding 
from the COPS Office will be surveyed regarding the nature and extent 
of community policing implementation in their agencies and precincts/
districts.
    To uphold its mandate, the COPS Office has awarded hiring and 
redeployment grants, innovative grants, and training grants to over 
10,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. While the COPS Office has 
made significant strides in funding officers it is important to 
consider the 1994 Crime Bill and the emergence of COPS in a long-term 
perspective. The proposed survey aims to answer questions regarding the 
nature and extent of community policing implementation across the 
United States.
    COPS data and prior national surveys of community policing 
implementation are limited in their capacity to describe how extensive 
community policing implementation is. In addition, existing data sets 
do not permit exploration of the likelihood that implementation of 
community policing varies within jurisdictions, particularly large ones 
that are decentralized to precinct or district levels. This factor is 
particularly important because a key element in much of the community 
policing reform literature is the importance of delegating decision 
making to the lowest level in the organization. The National Survey of 
Police Executives, District Commanders and Agencies will be able to 
capture variations within a jurisdiction.
    Surveys will incorporate elements that the COPS Office has 
identified as key components of community policing and will draw upon 
prior surveys, other literature, and prior knowledge to develop a 
comprehensive listing of community policing elements. Questions will 
provide more precise information about the extent to which each element 
is implemented.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: This collection 
is being conducted in two phases as a pilot survey and a larger follow-
up survey. Two sections, Section A and Section B will be utilized; a 
total of approximately 6700 respondents will be surveyed. Estimated 
time to complete Section A is 20 minutes with no preparation time; 
estimated time to complete Section B is 1.5 hours including preparation 
time.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection. Approximately 6141.6 hours.
    Public comment on this proposed information collection is strongly 
encouraged.

    Dated: February 26, 1999.
Brenda E. Dyer,
Department Deputy Clearance Officer, Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 99-5215 Filed 3-2-99; 8:45 am]
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